I believe the American people
deserve real answers on why this Administration is keeping public officials
quiet and keeping facts from the American people. We deserve better than
this." — Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry

“The House [of Representatives] passed a deeply flawed
Medicare prescription drug bill by a vote of 220-215 at 6:00am, November 22. Votes in the House usually last 15 minutes plus a
traditional two-minute cushion. But because the leadership did not have the votes to prevail, this vote was held open for a record
two-hours-and-51-minutes as bribes and special deals were offered to convince members to vote yes.” [“A
Medicare Showdown” Column by
Congressman Nick Smith 11/23/03]

Conservative Republican Congressman Nick Smith (R-MI) said that he was offered a bribe on the floor of the U.S. House
of Representatives. Smith is retiring from office, and his son, Brad, is running for that congressional seat. In an interview with Kevin Vanderboek of WKZO in Kalamazoo, Mich.,
Congressman Smith said “And so the first offer was to give [Brad] $100,000-plus for his campaign, and endorsements by national leadership,
and I said no, I'm going to stick to my guns on what I think is right for the constituents in my district.” To hear the interview replayed on NPR 12/8/03, go to http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1537867. [“Why Smith Can't Recant: They've got him on tape.” Slate Magazine 12/6/03; “Medicare Vote
Bribe Allegations” NPR, 12/8/03]

“(M)embers (lawmakers) and groups made offers of extensive financial
campaign support and endorsements for my son, Brad, who is running for my seat,” he wrote in a Nov. 28 editorial in the Lenawee Connection newspaper. “They also made threats
of working against Brad if I voted no.” [Smith's bribe charge probed Detroit News
2/6/04]

“The House passed a deeply flawed Medicare prescription drug bill by a vote
of 220-215 at 6:00 am, November 22. Votes in the House usually last 15 minutes plus a traditional two minute cushion. But because the leadership did not have the votes to prevail,
this vote was held open for a record two-hours-and-51-minutes as bribes and special deals were offered to convince members to vote yes.” [“A Medicare
Showdown” Column by Congressman Nick
Smith 11/23/03]

Congressman
Nick Smith did not vote for the White House Medicare bill.

Congressman “Smith backed off
on Dec. 4, just as he was starting to feel some heat from the growing prospect
of a Justice Department investigation. ‘No specific reference was made to money,’ he said. ‘I was told that my vote could result in interested groups giving substantial and aggressive
campaign 'support' and 'endorsements.' " ["Why Smith Can't
Recant: They've got him on tape.” Slate
Magazine 12/6/03]

"The House ethics committee said … it will begin an investigation to determine
whether Rep. Nick Smith, R-Mich., was offered a bribe to vote for a Medicare bill." [Ethics
committee eyes bribe allegation Boston
Globe 3/18/04]

“House Democratic Whip Steny
Hoyer, D-Md., who had urged the committee to investigate Smith, said Wednesday he hoped everyone involved will cooperate with the investigation. ‘I believe that this is an appropriate
and necessary action and the only way that the House can remove the cloud of suspicion that hangs over this matter to this day’ Hoyer said”. [Ethics
committee eyes bribe allegation Boston
Globe 3/18/04]

On the
issue of Nick Smith, the allegation that was made about a bribe on the House
floor. I believe it is an appropriate response that the Ethics Committee is
engaged in fact-finding, and that is the first step in an investigation. So I'm
satisfied in terms of this particular.—House
Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA)